He dismissed all the servants, leaving only the two of them in the massive house. Sera looked at the empty villa, feeling utterly speechless. She hadn't expected to be imprisoned by him again.

"Let me go. The system will take me away soon; you can't keep me," she said.

"System?" He froze for a moment, then laughed. "Are you just frightened? Stop thinking nonsense; you won't leave me."

Ignoring him, she sat on a sofa and waited for the countdown to end. Seeing her indifference, Julian felt a sting of pain. He knew she still hated him, but he didn't want to give up. He wanted to make amends.

He walked into the kitchen to prepare some food. He remembered that she loved his sweet and sour ribs the most.

Watching his silhouette disappear into the kitchen, Sera exhaled. She tried to find an exit, but every window and door was locked tight.

Suddenly, a window was smashed open. Xavier burst in with several men.

"Get out here!" Xavier roared.

Sera was startled; she hadn't expected him to find them so quickly. Xavier spotted her and lunged forward, grabbing her wrist and pulling her close, pressing a blade against her neck.

"Come out, or I’ll kill her!"

Julian rushed out of the kitchen. Seeing her held hostage, his eyes turned bloodshot. "Let her go! This is between us!"

"Between us?" Xavier sneered. "You killed Bianca; I’m going to let you taste the feeling of losing the person you love! Today, I’ll kill her to avenge Bianca!"

Caught between them, Sera felt exhausted. This novel world was completely broken. She just wanted to leave this hellhole, yet she was stuck in this predicament.

"Don't be impulsive!" Julian approached slowly, his gaze lethal. "If you dare hurt her, I’ll make sure you wish you were dead!"

"Is that so?" Xavier laughed, pressing the blade closer until it nicked her skin. "You think I'm afraid? Today, we all go down together!"

Sera felt the sting of the blade cutting into her skin.

[Repair progress: 100%. World repair complete. Host's mission is finished. Transmission beginning. Countdown: 10, 9, 8...]

The system's voice finally arrived. Sera felt a wave of relief.

"Julian, Xavier, stop it," she said calmly. "I’m leaving now. Settle your grudge yourselves."

"Leaving? Where are you going?" Both men were stunned.

In that instant, Xavier’s expression turned savage. He raised the knife and lunged at her chest.

"No!" Julian roared, throwing himself forward to pull her away, shielding her with his own body.

Squeltch—

The blade sank deep into Julian’s heart. Blood sprayed out instantly.

Chapter 15

Julian looked down at the knife in his chest, then up at Sera. A tragic smile tugged at his lips. "Sera... this time... I finally... protected you..."

His body went limp, falling into her arms.

She instinctively caught him, feeling his warmth fade away bit by bit. Her heart was a tangle of emotions. She had hated and resented him, but seeing him die while shielding her, she didn't know how to react for a moment.

"Julian," she whispered.

He struggled to open his eyes, looking at her with infatuation and regret. "I’m sorry. If... there’s a next life... I will... love you properly... and never let you down again..."

With that, his head tilted to the side, and he stopped breathing.

[Countdown: 3, 2, 1. Transmission beginning.]

The system's voice fell, and her figure vanished instantly.

When she opened her eyes again, she was back in her own world. The pork rib soup was still bubbling on the stove, filling the house with its scent.

Her parents crowded around her anxiously. "Sweetie, you're back? Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

She shook her head and gave them a reassuring smile. "I’m fine. The system protected me well."

"Thank goodness," Eleanor hugged her tightly, her eyes red. "You aren't allowed to go to places like that ever again. It’s too terrifying."

"Okay, I’ll listen to you," she replied obediently.

Internally, she asked, System, what happened to that world?

[The repair was completed, but that novel world has completely collapsed and cannot be restored. Julian is dead, and Xavier is dead. All plotlines of that world have ended.]

[Host's mission is complete. Rewards have been issued: your parents will have permanent health and live without illness or disaster.]

Sera nodded and asked no more. Everything in that world was over.

In the days that followed, she let go of the past and devoted herself to her life. She helped her parents with their small business, and in their spare time, they traveled, walked, and cooked together. Her life was peaceful and happy.

Years later, she met a gentle and considerate man named Silas. He wasn't paranoid or blind like Julian; he knew how to cherish and respect. He would make her laugh when she was down, take care of her tirelessly when she was sick, and remember all her preferences, giving her a complete sense of security.

Sera hesitated for a long time but eventually accepted his feelings. She knew she couldn't close her heart because of past wounds. She deserved to be loved and should be brave enough to love back.

On a bright, sunny day, they held a simple and warm wedding. Dressed in a white gown and looking at her husband, she smiled from the bottom of her heart. She finally understood that true happiness wasn't one-sided sacrifice, but a mutual journey and shared cherishing.

Their life after marriage was quiet and sweet, and the birth of their daughter filled the home with even more laughter. Her parents were healthy, happily playing with their grandchild every day, and her career flourished. She became the person she wanted to be.

Occasionally, on a quiet night, she would think of that novel world and of Julian. But there was no more hate or resentment; it felt like a distant dream.

The years were peaceful, and the past was like smoke. This was the life she wanted, and the happiness she deserved.

Chapter 16

Julian’s Side Story

The violent sensation of suffocation suddenly vanished. Julian snapped his eyes open, greeted by the sight of a magnificent banquet hall ceiling. The melodic strains of a waltz and the laughter of guests filled his ears.

Bewildered, he looked down at himself. He was wearing a slightly youthful black suit, and on his wrist was the old watch his mother had left him before she passed away.

This was how he looked at eighteen, and the scene before him was clearly Sera’s fifteenth birthday banquet.

"Julian, why are you spacing out?"

A childhood friend beside him patted his shoulder, his tone teasing. "The young mistress is about to come over. Her father went to great lengths to host this party. So many people are dying for a chance to talk to her but can't find an opening. You better seize the opportunity!"

The young mistress? Fifteenth birthday?

Julian trembled as if struck by lightning.

He had been reborn!

He had returned to the very day he and Sera first met!

In his previous life, Sera had taken one look at him at this banquet and domineeringly declared to everyone: "This man is mine. If anyone dares touch him, I’ll ruin them!"

Later, she poured all of the Sterling family's resources into helping him reach the top. She kept such a tight leash on him that everyone mocked him for being henpecked, yet he had been perfectly content.

But in the end, he was blinded by Bianca's disguise. He personally gave away the heart meant to save Sera’s life and watched her be misunderstood and imprisoned until her cold body lay in a basement. Only then did he finally wake up.

Finally, to protect her—the reborn her—he had been stabbed through the heart by Xavier and closed his eyes in regret.

This time, he would never let history repeat itself!

Julian’s gaze searched frantically through the crowd, quickly locking onto that familiar figure.

Sera was wearing a pink princess dress, her hair in a high ponytail. With a hint of youthful innocence on her face, she was surrounded by a group of wealthy socialites, her eyes clear and bright.

In the last life, she was the one who chose him.

In this life, it was his turn to take the initiative, to protect her, and to make up for all his debts.

Julian took a deep breath, straightened his collar, and walked quickly toward her.

His heart throbbed in his chest, filled with a mix of nervousness and the ecstatic joy of recovering something lost.

"Hello, Miss Sterling."

He approached her and bowed slightly, his voice carrying a tenderness and tension he didn't even notice. "My name is Julian. I'm very happy to attend your birthday banquet. You look truly beautiful today."

Interrupted in her conversation, Sera froze and looked him up and down.

The young man before her was indeed handsome and his gaze seemed sincere, but she didn't know him.